The “New” Strategy Playbook for These Turbulent Times

The Greek philospher, Heraclitus once said, “The only constant is change”. I wonder if he envisioned the rate of change hitting us today?

If there is one thing that everyone agrees on it is that the pace of change and complexity are continuing to increase, faster and faster. Since Brian Solis wrote, The End of Business as Usual, we are seeing large companies seemingly disappear from the business landscape like the dinosaurs of the distant past. The question is what does this rapid pace of change and increasing complexity mean to you? Your business, firm, and even your career?

“Competitors and customers have become too unpredictable, and industries too amorphous. The forces at work here are familiar: the digital revolution, a “flat” world, fewer barriers to entry, globalization. To stay ahead, they need to constantly start new strategic initiatives, building and exploiting many transient competitive advantages at once. Though individually temporary, these advantages, as a portfolio, can keep companies in the lead over the long run.”

In other words, it is the end of competitive advantage and we now find ourselves in the brave new world of transient advantages. The world of transient advantages requires us to think differently, and act nimbly, building a series of potential “advantages” instead of relying on one big advantage. What happens when your one big advantage gets disrupted? You go the way of those big companies that are disappearing overnight (watch End of Business video).

People are listening to what she has to say. Rita was just named as the sixth most influentiual business thinker in the world by Thinkers50 and Forbes. She was also named one of the 25 smartest women on twitter by FastCompany Magazine. And she is presenting on the world stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

What are the signs your company could be in the “disruption zone” (take the test on slide 4 to see your risk of disruption)?

Customers are finding cheaper or simpler solutions to be “good enough”

Competition is emerging from places we didn’t expect

Customers are no longer excited with what we have to offer

We are not considered a top place to work by the people we would like to hire

Some of our very best people are leaving

The growth trajectory has slowed or reversed

We are investing at the same levels or even more and not getting margins or growth in return

How do you deal with disruption and thrive in a transient advantage economy?

Rita talks about the six plays in the new strategy playbook for both businesses and individuals:

Discovery Driven Mindset – Learning how to scout and manage a portfolio of advantages

Entrepreneurial Career Management – Learning how to learn new skills and position your own set of advantages

You mean this also applies to us as individuals?

“It’s crucial on a business level, but also on an individual level,” McGrath said. “In my new book, I devote a whole chapter to the question, ‘What does a career look like in this transient-advantage economy?’ It’s things like, ‘Are you exposing yourself to new networks? Are you meeting new people? Have you developed new skills? Have you associated with new organizations?’ Chances are one organization is not where you will spend the rest of your working life. So how do you build a career in which you move from advantage to advantage, in which you create value that’s unique to you? How to you build a career in which other organizations can appreciate that value?”

That is what we are all about at the Business learning Institute, keeping your L>C and we are excited to have Rita McGrath coming to Maryland on January 30th, 2014. She is coming from the World Economic Forum in Davos to our session at the BWI Hilton Hotel from 9:00 – 12:30pm (Live and via webcast) details and registration here.

Come learn how to thrive in a world of transient advantages and work on your 2014 Competitive Edge playbook (follow Rita and us on twitter at #BLIEdge Rita @rgmcgrath BLI @blionline).